Chapter 6
A/N Finally, a glimpse of that infamous diary…
She was summoned two days later. However, the message was delivered in a much different way.
'Mrs Hughes, the Dowager Countess asked to see you,' Mr Carson informed her, offering a hearty smile. She felt slightly guilty towards him while heading for the drawing room. But not for long.
She entered the room and smiled. 'You asked to see me Milady?'
'Yes Elsie, I did,' the Dowager said, after making sure the door was firmly closed. 'I find I am getting impatient with you. Have you anything to report?'
'Yes, I have Milady,' Elsie said.
The old lady sat upright in her chair immediately .
'What did you say! Have you found the book? Or what is it?' she asked anxiously.
Elsie smiled again. She found she was having a little too much fun with this. How inappropriate for a respectable housekeeper like herself….but there it was.
'Go on, say something!' the old lady urged her.
She took a deep breath.
'Well,' she said slowly, 'I always wondered why we had to keep the gin under lock and key all the time. Now I know.'
The effect was astonishing. Lady Grantham went pale and her hands grasped the armrests.
She stared at her in shock, her eyes filled with absolute, pure horror.
'I…you….,' she whispered.
'And the stablemen. Really, milady,' Elsie added softly.
'I didn't…I never have…'
'I went to the stables the other day and I actually found an old bottle stashed away, right at the place it was described to be.'
The Dowager looked as if she might faint any moment. Elsie felt a pang of conscience, but suppressed it.
'Now I understand why you husband couldn't keep his hands off the maids,' she whispered.
'Because you were a disgustingly little tramp, you were,' the Dowager hissed. She seemed to have regained her spirit.
'That's why, Elsie!' she spat.
Elsie smiled and shook her head.
'I'm sorry milady, but that doesn't do anymore. In case you didn't understand, I did find the diary. And I was ready to hand it over to you, the last time we met. Lord Grantham came in, I had to leave and I was so angry with your insults, I took the book and I read it.'
'You didn't! You miserable, filthy…. Dear me, I can't say the word!'
'Whore?' Elsie offered.
'That's…yes! I'll inform Mr Carson and His Lordship right away and you are finished, Elsie. I will have you…'
The Dowager still didn't quite seem to fully understand, so Elsie explained.
'I don't think so, milady,' she said, 'because if you do, I might go visit sir Richard Carlyle. He has no reason to be particularly kind to the Crawley's. His Lordship was very detailed in his reports and it's not all about gin. I'm sorry.'
Lady Grantham knew when to surrender.
'What do you want, money? I suppose so, that's all you lower class people are interested in, ' she spat.
'No, milady. Not quite like that. Do you remember Jean?'
A/N Please review! x george